Hose clamp



March 9, 1937. `M CAILLAU' 2,073,294

HOSE CLAMP Filed Maron 1, 1935 ls sheets-sheet 1 March 9, 1937. M. u. cAlLLAU 2,073,294'

` HOSE -CLAMP FiledMarch l, 1935 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9, 1937.

HOSE CLAMP Filed March 1,1955

FIQIE ff Fi' l5 l mnmwi M. u. CAILLAU I 2,073,294

s sheets-sheet s' Patented Mar. 9, v1937 UNITED. srATEs PATENT. ori-lcs y Application March l. 1935, Serial No. 8,956 In Great Britain January 1351935 v9 claims. `(ci. 24-19i This invention relates to hose clamps and has more particular reference to the type of hose clamps comprising a iiexible tie such as a band` or strip curved to 'f orm a loop around a hose hose clamps comprising a flexible band or strip" curved to form a loop around a hose or similar object and having its ends bent out to form a pair of lugs which are perforated to receive a screw by means of which the loop can be contracted or expanded at will. Such known hose clamps have the disadvantage of requiring a lengthy and very `strong screw to permit the band to be tightened or released to the required extent while avoiding the screw becoming distorted or. torn off 'under the high pressures to which the band is subjected whentightened around the hos. Moreover, as the bandof. such known hose V- clamps necessarily has perforated lugs, as aforesaid', for receiving the screw, said lugs frequently break' off in use, which is another serious disadvantage, particularly when the clamp is tted on a hose forming a'coupling for rigid pipes through which a fluid ows, for instance in the case of such rubber hoses as are used to connect the cooling water jackets of internal combustion engines to honeycomb radiators of automobiles. y

The primary object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the type comprising'a screw or more generally a screw-threaded rod or spin.- dl'ebut of such an improved construction as to obviate the above-stated disadvantages owing to 40 a novel shape and a novel structure of the clamping band or more generally of the flexible tie which is adapted to surround the object to be clamped, said novel shape and structure permitting to use a shorter and more slender screw than inI hose clamps constructed heretofore while allowing of quicker and safer tightening and releasing actions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the type comprising ascrew for 50 actuation purposes butcapable of utilizing, as a flexible tie, either a band or strip made for instance of curlable sheet of metal or foil or a wire. y

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the aforesaidtype whereina relatively small stress imparted to the screw permits the cross sectional area of the tie loop encompassing the hose or similar article to be quickly and considerably decreased or' increased for clamping or releasing said article.

5 A still further object of the invention is to Iprolvide aihose clamp Aofthe aforesaidtype wherein n the actuation of the screw in the one or the other direction is, converted immediately `into an increase or'a decrease of the cross sectional area 10 of the loop surrounding the hose, so that clamping or releasing thereof can'be performed very quickly. 1 a Still a further object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the aforesaid type, wherel5 in although said screw may be much more slender thanin known hoseclamps of the same type it is not liable to break off-or become distorted, this result being due tothe fact that tie beingsoconstituted) -does' not require to '25" Abe perforated as in known hose clamps. this re-y sult being due to the fact that 4the screw does not pass through holes in the band but exerts its tightening orreIeasing stress through the intermediary of spreading means arranged in a novel 30 way, due to a novel shape of the band.

A still further object of the invention vis to provide a hose clamp of the aforesaid type, wherein thehose does not run the risk of becoming pinched or damaged yby the edges of holes of 35 the band-since no such holes require to be formed in the same. A y

'A'still furtherl object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of theaforesaid type; wherein the stress exerted by the screw either for 'tightening or for releasing the band around 'the hose is multiplied or magnified due to a vnovel construction Vgiven to said hose clam-p, the space vwhere the screw stress acts in one direction or the'other being clear of the portion. of the band 5 or other flexible tie lwhich surrounds the hose, so ythat the actuation of the screw is very easy and handy.

A further object still of the-invention is to provide a hose clamp of the aforesaid type, wherein the screwis permitted to assume a position of equilibrium with respect to the portion of the band or flexible tie on which it acts, whereby said portion is subjected to the same tensile 55 strength throughout its length and does not run the risk of being torn off.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the aforesaid type,

I wherein the stress of the screw is transmitted to the tie through the intermediary of spreading means located in a supplementary loop formed by said tie which defines an 8-shaped structure, the arrangement of said spreading means being such as to lock the ends of the tie in position to avoid undue disengagement of the clamp from the hose while in use.

Another object still of the invention is to protail with reference to Figure 1 to 19 of the accompanyin'g diagrammatic drawings which form a part of the present disclosure.

In the drawingsz- Figure l shows the 8-sha`ped structure of th improved hose clamp according to the invention, assuming said hose clamp to be in inoperative position.

Figure 2 is aview similar to Figure 1 but showing the hose clamp in operative position that is to say after the screw has been actuated in the proper direction for increasing the size of the smaller loop and decreasing the size of the companion (larger) loop.

Figure 3 is avview showing a ilrst embodiment of the improved hose clamp, the tie being consti-v tuted by a wireibent twice upon itself to form the j two strands or convolutions of the ,two associated loops, the adjusting screw being removed.

Figure 4 shows the screw having a knurled head which can be used in connection with the wire hose clamp shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 shows an elevation, partly in section, of another embodiment' of the improved hose clamp, the tie being constituted by a non-perforated thin band or strip of sheet metal, a portion of the periphery of the smaller loop comprising a slotted shackle, said. smaller loop containing means engaged by the screw and co-operating to permit expansion or contraction of said loop incidental to the .actuation of the screw.

Figure 6 is a perspective view substantially corresponding to Fig. 5. l l

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the smaller loon increased in size due to the expanded position of the spreading means.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the slotted shackle comprised in the hose clamp shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the engagement of the flexible tie or band through the slots of the shackle shown in Fig. 8. v

Figure 10 shows in broken elevation and partly in section another embodiment of the improved hose clamp, the slotted Ul-shaped shackle permitting the band to be fastened by countercranking one of its ends and hooking it into an end slot of the shackle which has unequal legs.

Figure 11 is an edge View, partly in section,v

showing a modified form of the hose clamp, the shackle being straight and formed with a pair of slots and with a tapped hole for the engagement of the screw, this view showing the clampiu Areleased or inoperative condition.

Figure 12 is an edge view partly in section, similar to Fig.'11, assuming the spreading block to be expanded to operative position.

Figure 13 is an edge view, partly in section, showing another modiiied form of the hose clamp wherein the smaller loop comprises a flexible shackle accommodating a screw-holding block and a spreading block, said flexible shackle having end slots through which the ends of the band are hooked.

Figure 14 is a top plan view corresponding to Fig. 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the iiexible slotted plate which may be'curled ,to f orm the shackle shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

Figure 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 showing a modified form of the iiexible slotted plate adapted to be curled into a flexible shackle, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

Figure 17 is a plan view showing a slotted -ilexible plate capable of being curled into the form of a flexible shackle, Said plate being formedA nection with the form of hose clamp shown in Fig. 18.

ures were drawn at different and arbitrary-scales but, for the sake of clearness, like references designate like parts throughout all the figures.

I'he improved hose clamp, as will be understood from an examination of Figures 1 and 2, instead of comprising a` single loop as heretofore, the new hose clamp Acomprises two adjacent cooperating loops 1, 8 which, by their mutual dis.- position, define an 8-shaped structure, the total length of the operative portions of both loops being invariable while the clamp is in use, as will be described hereafter. Advantageously one of the loops designated by I0 is larger than the other loop designated by Il. The loop I0 may be called the clamping loop because it actually clamps the hose (not shown) which is encompassedv or girdled thereby Whereas the loop Il may be called the controlling loop" because it acts to control the cross sectional area of the companion loop IIJ, under the action of the screw I2.

An important feature4 of the improved hose clamp is that each loop can only be rendered longer by rendering the companion loop correspondingly shorter and, conversely, can be rendered shorter only by rendering the companion loop longer. To that effect spreading means are arranged in the controlling loop. Said spreading means may `take various forms, as will be described hereafter. The actuation of said spreading means isperformed preferably by means of a screw I2. Such a screw may be much shorter and more slender (cheaper) than in known hose clamps because the motion of the screw I2 is multiplied by the fact that it increases the contour of the controlling loop Il which inturn decreases the contour of the clamping loop Ill. Moreover, said screw I2 is constantly supported through the loop Il; it has no overhanging por' tion and therefore is subjected to much smaller stresses than in former hose clamps.A

In the embodiment of the improved hose clamp which is shown in mures 3 and 4, the flexible tie which is adapted to encircle the hose or similar article (not shown) is constituted by an inextensible wire made'of any suitable metal or alloy.

.5 The wire is curved to form two adjacent loops III, II, each formed of two convolutions, the ends of said wire being bent to define an en d oi' the larger loop I while forming a hook through which an end of the smaller loop II is fastened, whereby able.A Said loops define an 8-shaped structure the prole of which is variable since the size of the 1oop II can be increased for decreasing thejslze of the loop III or vice versa. Inside the smaller l loop II` are freely located spreading blocks I3, I4

which may-have the shape of cylindrical segments, as shown. The block llhas a tapped hole I3a through which can be threaded the screw I2; the block I4 has a smooth hole Ma of smaller section into which is received the reduced end I2a of the screw I2 the shank of which is thus abutted against the periphery` of said hole Ila.-

In the embodiment shown, the screw I2 has aknurled head I5 provided witha groove I5a into which may be inserted the bit of a screw-driver (not shown) for actuation purposes.

It will be appreciated that by rotating th screw I2 in the proper direction, the spreading blocks I3 and Il can be easily moved away from II while correspondingly decreasing the size of the loop III and while therefore clamping the hose (not shown) in the last-named loop. Conversely. byrotating the screw I2 in the opposite direction, the loop I0 which encircles the hose is permitted to increase in size due to the expanding pressure exerted by the hose owing tothe i possibility of.a decrease in size of the loop II. y Reference being now had to'Figuresl 5, 6, 7, 8, 40 and 9 in which is shown another embodiment of the improved hose clamp, it will be seen that a portion of the smaller loop II is constituted by a shackle I6 of curved outline, fastened to the ends of the band. -The shackle I8 is formed, adjacent its respective ends with slots or openings I'I, I8.

Into the slot I1 which is T-shaped is hooked the Ainwardly bent end IIa of the smaller loop II.

The slot Isis wide'enough to permit Jthe junction or. crotch portionof the loops to freely pass therethrough; in said slot I8 is hooked the outwardly bent end .Ina of the larger loop III.

and ,'7 are freelylocated rigid blocks I3, Il, which,

in the embodiment shown. have`a curved outline which matches the inner contour of said loop.l

The block I4 has a smooth hole Ila in which is received the reduced end I2a of the screw I2 which is threaded through av tapped noie formed in the block I3 as in Figure 3. The shank of the screw I2 freely passes through the T-Ashaped slot I1 of the shackle I6 and assumes in said slot a position corresponding to the dynamic equilibrium of the blocks I3, Il in the ysmaller loop comprising the parts II and I8. By dynamic equilibrium l is meantvhere a balanced-condition for-which the the total length of the two loops I 0, II is invarieach other. This increases the size oi.' the loop direction either manually (owing to its knurled Ahead I5) or by means of a screw driver (owing to the groove IM) it will be seen that, as said screw I2 is engaged with the tappedhole formed in the block I3 which behaves like a nut, the block I 4 is moved away from the block I3.' As a result of this, the part Il' of the band is expanded while the crotch region of the loops is pulled through tionalsize of the larger loop I0 is correspondingly lessened. This clamps the hose -(not shown) or other article girdled by said loop III. The

clamping stress is proportional to the extent ofrotation of the screw I2. Owing to the engagement of the screw @ith the tapped hole of the block I3, the screw cannot unscrew itself. sopthat when the rotation thereof for clamping purposes ceases.' the hose remains ilrmly clamped,

' the slot Il and while accordingly the cross'secj no matter whether it undergoes releasing stresses mits the smaller loop to decrease insize and the larger loop .IB to correspondingly increase in size. By examining Fig. 7, it willbe seen that, when the block Il has been moved away from the block i I3 due to the rotation of the screw I2 yin the clamping direction, the outwardly bent end Ia' of thepart I0 of the band'is wedged between the adjacent edge oi' the shackle I 6 and the part I.I

of the band. This wedging eiect'prevents any,

undue disengagement of the band and ensures, in conjunction with the wedging of the inwardly The blockl Il is then v allowed to move towards the block' I3 which per-A bent end Ila of the pa`rt II of the band, that the total length of both loops is invariable At the same time, owing to the freedom of the crotch region of the `loops through the slot I8 of the shackle, the proiile of the 8-shaped structure deiined bythe two adjacent loops is variable responsive to the actuation imparted thereto, by

-means of the screw I2, asabove described.

' Reference being now had to Figure l0 in which is shown dilagrammatically a further embodiment of the' improved hose clamp, itl will-be 4seen that the shackle I8 is shaped in a manner somewhat diiferent from theshackle shown in Figs.A 5 to 9.

-The shackle in Figure 1 0 is substantially U- shaped but has 'unequal legs;A it. also has spaced slots I1, Il but itis provided', moreover,with,a larger slot I9, formed in ,its longer leg ifor the free engagement of an lextension. IIb of the part I I of the band. The end IIa of said extension is outwardly, bent over the end Ita of the shackle.

'I'he part II of the band is bent outwardly over the other end Iib of the shackle beyond its engagement through the ,slot I3. This countercranking of the part II of the band prevents any undue disengagement t-the same. Just as in the w 11 'and 12, the shame ls itself has a tapped hole to permit the shank or the screw lz to be threadd into it. AThe shackle is formed with slots II, I8,

as inthe previously described embodiments, for

analogous purposes. The end of the shank ofthel shank oi' the screw screw I2 is reduced and engaged into a smooth hole formed centrally of the spreading block I4 which is. in the shape of a cylindrical segment. 'Ihe operation takes place substantially as above described.

According to the constructional modifications shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the shackle I6 is formed by curling upon itself a flexible plate to constitute the extensible and contractible, smaller loop.

The band is used only for constituting the larger loop. The ends Ia and IIlb of thc band are hooked into slots I 6c and I6d formed in the plate from which the expansible and contractible shackle is made. The shackle also has a middle slot I6e through which the screw I2 passes. Inside the smaller loop constituted by the shackle IG are located blocks I3; I4 which operate substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3. The head I5 of the screw I2 is shown in this instance of polygonal outline and has a hole I5b through which a spindle, nail or pointed tool can be inserted for rotating the screw in the one or the other direction more easily.

As illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, the slot IIe of the expansible and contractible shackle I6 is large enough to permit the same to be curled upon itself to form crossed legs. The side edges of the shackle lvmay be reinforced by ribs I6f. Teeth may be formed on one edge-of the slots I6c, I6d (as shown in Fig. 16) to provide a better grip on the band. The end of the shackle I6 may have side notches IGg to hold down the bent end Illa of the band and prevent it from buckling up.

According to the constructional form shown in Figs. 17, 18, and 19, the shackle IB which is expansible and contractible as in the previously described embodiment has a central elongated slot IIe and is formed integral with an end of the `band. The free end IIIa of said band is bent and hooked into the slot IBe which has teeth on one of its edges to provide a safer grip on the band. The smaller or controlling loop formed solely by thershackle IS contains blocks I3, I4 formed as described with reference to' Fig. 13. In this constructional form, the head of the screw I2 has wings 22 to facilitate its manual actuation. The operation is substantially as described with reference to the other gures.

It is, of course, to be understood that while the forms shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the tie band as an uninterrupted strip of metal while the forms shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 show the band as made up of a strip of metal supple- 55 mented by a rigid shackle, yet nevertheless the tie band as a whole is, so f ar as the use of two loops and the formation of the band in 8-form is concerned', identical in both forms of the device. Thus, it will be understood that the term tie band or band as used in the specification and claims is intended to mean either the inner uninterrupted strip of metal for forming both loops or a strip of metal supplemented by a rigid shackleV to form the second loop. The rigid shackle is, when the band is in use, a deinite distinct part of the strip of metal constituting the larger loop, so that the use of the term tie band or band in thespecicatin and claims is intended to mean any uninterrupted formation,

70 whether continuous or not, which in use is of 8- 75 ples of the improved hose clamp as above 'described, the several embodiments described being only illustrative and not limitative of the constructional possibilities. A11 the variations in question are comprehended in the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hose clamp comprising a tie arranged to form two adjacent loops constituting an 8-shaped structure of variable profile adjusting means of an outline matching the inner contour of one of the loops for increasing or decreasing at will the l size of said loop and for `correspondingly decreasing or increasing the size of the companion loop,.

and means for holding the adjusting means in the selected position.

l2. A hose clamp comprising' a band arranged to form two adjacent loops constituting an 8- shaped structure of variable profile adjusting means located in one of the loops for increasing or decreasing at will the size of said loop and for correspondingly decreasing or increasing the size of the companion loop, and screw-threaded means engaging the adjusting means for actuating and holding them in the selected position.

3. A hose clamp comprising a band arranged to form two adjacent loops constituting an 8- shaped structure of variable profile and bent and fastened at its ends, adjusting means located in one of the loops forv increasing or decreasing at will the size of said loop and for correspondingly decreasing or increasing the size of the companion loop, and a screw engaging the adjusting means for actuating them and holdingthem'in the selected position.

4.' A hose clamp comprising a band bent to form two adjacent loops, a shackle fastened to the ends of the band and completing one of the loops to form an 8-shaped structure of variable ing one of the loops as to form an 8shaped4 structure of variable prole, said shackle having an opening through which the crotch portion of the band can freely slide, adjusting blocks located in the first-named loop for increasing or decreasing the size of said loop while correspondingly decreasing or increasing the size of the companion loop, and a screw passing through the shackle slot and engaging the blocks for actuating them and holding them in the selected position.

6. A hose clamp comprising a band curved to form two adjacent loops of unequal size, a slotted rigid shackle fastened to the ends of the band and so completing the smaller loop as to form an 8-shaped structure of variable profile, said shackle having an opening through which the crotch portion of the band can freely slide, adjusting blocks located in the smaller loop, and a screw passing through the shackle slot land engaging the blocks for actuating them at will and holding them in the selected position, the actuation of said blocks increasingor decreasing the size of the smaller loop while'decreasing or increasing the size of the larger loop.

y 9,078,264 7. Ahoseclamp comprising aband bent to'form c Itwo adjacent loops of unequal size. .a shackle.

Lhaving a fr-shaped slot .and so fastened to the ends of the tie band asto compietethe smaller loop and form ana-shaped structureof variable.

profile, saidshackle having an opening through which the crotch portion of the band can i'reely slide, adjusting blocks freely located in the. sxualler 1oop,and 'av screw freelyV passing through the T-shaped slot of the shacltieandl engaging the blocks or actuating them at will and holding thexnin the selected position, the actuation of said' blocks increasingl or decreasing the sizev of.

ture of variable profile, the shackle slot nearest to the crotch of the loops being wide enough to slidably receive the crotch region ofthe band, adjustof the shackle and engaging the blocks for actuating them at wm and holding ,mem 1n the sel ing blocks freely located in the smallerloop, and a screw freely passing through the T-shaped slot looted position.. :ne actuation of ma blocks 1ncreasing or decreasing the size of the smaller loop while correspondingly decreasing or increasing the size of the larger loop.

9. A" hose clamp comprising fa 4flexible bandbent to form two adjacent loops of unequalfa curved rigid shackle having a pair of "slots, one

at least o! which isserrated on its outer edge,

one ot said .slots havinga keyhole shape, the

'ends of the band being hooked l:into the `:shackle `slots so that the shackle-completes the smallerv loop and forms an B-shapedstructure of v 'ble prole, -the slot adjacentthe crotch ofthell ps.

being wide enough to slidably receive the crotch region of the band, a pair of curved spreading.

blocks freely located in-,the smaller loop, one ot said blocks havinga-ftapped holeand a screw freely passing through the shackle keyhole slot and engaging the `tapped block, the tip of the screw h'aving hearingl engagement with theother block which forms an'abutment for the screw,

the 'actuation of the, screw moving the blocks Atowards or away from feach other for decreasing or increasing the size of the/smaller loop while `correspondingly increasing or decreasing the size of the larger loop.

URBAN camu.' 

